Indicating control system



Feb. 27, 1934.

INDI CATING CONTROL SYSTEM E.V.BERECHE Filed April 6, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 27-, 1934. E. v. BERECHE INDICATING CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 6, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb; 27, 1934. v, BERECHE 1,948,498

INDICATING CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 6, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 27, 1934. v BERECHE 1,948,498

INDICATING CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 6, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in indicating control system, such as a signal system, or the like, which it is desired to control from a remote point.

An object of my invention is to provide mechanism of an improved character which will effectively control such system and which will indicate the extent of the controlling actuation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for the tuning of a radio instrument from a point remote therefrom and, if desired, from any of a plurality of different points, any one of which may be used to retime the instrument for obtaining a different selection. In other words, 15 it is possible to locate the receiving set at a desired point and utilize a plurality of tuning mechanisms at several different points, any of which may control and regulate the tuning of the single set. In this way the reception at diiferent points may be governed and controlled to suit the desires of the persons at such points.

Another object of the invention is to provide for automatically indicating the extent that the auxiliary control regulates the position of the tuning mechanism of the receiving set, so as to indicate to the operator at the auxiliary mechanism in what way that mechanism should be regulated to vary the tuning of the set for increasing or decreasing the volume, for instance, or the selection.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch and indicating mechanism with the cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the control cabinet;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the same; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of one of the ratchet mechanisms.

The switch box is designated generally by the numeral 1 and shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This box is provided with insulators 2, in which is mounted the opposite ends of a rod 3, on which a handle 4 is slidably mounted for longitudinal movement. This handle 4 is held in a central position by springs 5, shown in Fig. 3. Prongs 6 project outwardly from the opposite sides of the handle 4 for a purpose hereinafter referred to. Mounted on opposite sides of the rod 3 are contact members 7 and 8, and insulated from these contact members as at 9 but aligned therewith are the segmental contact bars 10 and 11, likewise mounted on opposite sides of the rod 3.

The contact bars 10 and 11 are provided with a plurality of upwardly extending projections, between which openings 12 are formed. The projections are intended to be engaged by the prongs 6 whenever the handle 4 is rocked to either one side or the other, and the openings 12 form insulating spaces between the projections, or if desired insulators may be disposed in these spaces, over which the prongs may ride as the handle is moved longitudinally of the contact bars.

Disposed in the switch box 1 is a drum switch designated generally by the numeral 13. This drum switch has the external surface thereof provided with suitable designations, such as volume, selector, trimmer, etc., for designating the set position of the switch for controlling the different parts of the radio receiving set and to indicate which of these is being tuned at any specific time.

This switch 13 is actuated by ratchet mechanism of a novel construction and of the type shown in detail in Fig. 6. A ratchet gear 14 is fixed to the switch. The ratchet mechanism for actuating this switch is designated generally by the numeral 15. A main housing 16 slidably receives a sleeve 17, which sleeve is normally pressed upward by the spring 18 housed within the housing 16 but connected at its upper end with the sleeve 1'7.

A rod 19 is slidably received within the sleeve 17 but protrudes from the upper end thereof and has a head 20 formed thereon. The rod 19 is likewise normally pressed upward by means of a spring 21 housed within the sleeve 17. The lower end of the rod 19 is beveled as at 22 for engaging the beveled inner end 23 of a ratchet pin 24, which slidably projects laterally through the side of the sleeve 17 in position to engage the teeth of the ratchet gear 14.

The ratchet mechanism 15 is mounted on one side of the gear 14, as shown in Fig. 2, and a similar mechanism 25 is disposed on the opposite side of said gear. One of said mechanisms is adapted to actuate the gear in one direction while the other rotates it in the opposite direction.

Disposed over the head of each of the ratchet mechanisms is an armature 26 pivoted as at 27. These armatures are actuated by electro-magnets 28 and 29, likewise disposed on opposite sides of the gear 14. In this way, whenever either of the sets of electro-magnets 28 and 29 is energized, this attracts the armature 26, forcing the rod 19 downward and the pin 24 outward by reason of its beveled engagement therewith, first to engage the teeth of the gear 14 and by the continual downward movement of the armature this causes a rotation of the gear 14 to a predetermined extent equal, at least, to the pitch of one of the teeth of this gear.

Upon the release of the armature by the magnet, the springs in the ratchet mechanisms 15 and 25 return the parts to their initial positions and likewise withdraw the pin 24 from engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear, allowing this to be rotated in the opposite direction by actuation of the other ratchet mechanism.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, the main contacts '7 and 8 are electrically connected respectively with the electro-magnets 28 and 29 through the wires 30 and 31. The opposite sides of both of the electro-magnets 29 and 30 are connected through a wire 32 to sets of electromagnets 33, 34, 35, 36, 3'7 and 38. The opposite sides of these sets of electro-magnets 3338 are connected to contacts of the switch 13 and through those contacts and by means of the switch arms 39 and connected with the outer ends of the contact bars 10 and 11.

Each of the sets of electro-magnets 33-38 actuates a ratchet mechanism of the type above described and as shown in Fig. 6, and any number of which may be used for regulating and controlling suitable indicating mechanism for the tuning of the radio receiving set. As shown in Fig. 2, only two of such indicating mechanisms are illustrated, although more may be used if desired according to the number of controls and tuning devices used in the radio receiving set, to which the invention may be applied.

The electro-magnets 33 control a ratchet mechanism 40 disposed beside a ratchet gear 41,

while electro-magnets 34 control a ratchet mechanism 42 for actuating a similar ratchet gear 43. These gears are connected with indicating drums 44 and 45, respectively, which carry an indicating tape or band 46 extending about both of the drums 44 and 45, as shown in Fig. 2. The electromagnets 35 actuate a ratchet mechanism 4'7 for turning a ratchet gear 48 while the electro-magnets 36 actuate a ratchet mechanism 49 for turning a gear 50. The gears 48 and 50 are fixed to drums 51 and 52, about which an indicating band 53 is disposed. The tapes or bands 46 and 53 carry suitable indications for indicating the degree of tuning of, for instance, the volumeor selection.

This switch box designated by the numeral 1 and containing the mechanism above described may be located at a point remote from the radio receiving set but may be used for controlling and tuning the receiving set.

For that purpose, the control cabinet is utilized and adapted to be disposed adjacent to the receiving set or it may be a part of it. As shown in the drawings, particularly Figs. 4 and 5, this cabinet is separate and designated generally by the numeral 54.

" and which ratchet mechanisms are designated by the numerals 5'7 and 58. These ratchet mechanisms are located in cooperative engagement with gears 59 and 60, which gears have sheaves 61 and 62 fixed thereto. Wound on these sheaves .and disposed therebetween is a cable 63.-

Slidably mounted in tracks 64 in the control cabinet 54 is a slide 65, upon which are mounted sets of electro-magnets 66 and armatures 6'7. The slide 65 carrying the electro-magnets and armatures is adapted to be moved back and. forth in the tracks 64, but locked in predetermined positions by means of a spring-pressed pin 68, through the eye of which passes the cable 63, which cable likewise passes through plates 69 and is provided with enlargements '70 on the outer sides of said plates for engaging the plates to move the slide or carriage 65 whenever the pin 68 is withdrawn.

Disposed in the control cabinet 54 are a p1u rality of ratchet mechanisms designated by the numeral '71, arranged in a row beside the tracks 64 in position to be actuated by one of the armatures 67 as the electro-magnets 66 are brought to rest beside a ratchet mechanism '71. These ratchet mechanisms '71 are also of the form shown in Fig. 6.

Disposed in front of each of the ratchet mechanisms 71 is a gear '72 to which is connected a sheave 73, about which passes a cable '74, which extends over the dials '75 of the radio receiving set '76 or some tuning element with which said dials may be operatively connected or which may be actuated for tuning or regulating the radio receiving set. Some of the control dials may be in the cabinet 54, if desired.

The electro-magnets and 56 each has one side thereof connected respectively to the contacts '7 and 8, as shown in Fig. 1, and the opposite sides are connected together and with a source of electrical energy, such as a transformer '77, which transformer is likewise connected with the electro-magnets 28, 29 and 66 on one side and on the opposite side with the rod 3 and the handle 4 thereof.

In operation, the handle 4 is first moved back between the contacts 7 and 8 and by turning said handle in either one direction or the other, one of the arms 6 is brought into engagement with either of the contacts '7 or 8, as for instance the contact 8. This closes an electrical circuit from the transformer through the electro-magnets 29 and 56, the former of which turns the switch 13 to the right to an extent depending upon the length of time the engagement is made.

The operator merely watches the indications on the switch and when the desired indication appears, as for instance the selector, he releases the handle, which is returned to its neutral position by the springs 5. The electro-magnets 56, while energized, causes a turning of the sheave 62 and a corresponding movement of the cable 63, first withdrawing the pin 68 and then moving the carriage or slide along until the armature 67 is disposed above the desired one of the ratchet devices '71. The continuous actuation of the electro-magnet 56 may be secured either by providing a segmental contact bar similar to the con tact bars 10 and 11 or by an intermittent contacting of the arm 6 with the contact 8.

After bringing the carriage or slide 65 into proper relation with the corresponding ratchet mechanism '71, the handle 4 is moved along in contact with one or the other of the segmental contact bars 10 or 11, as for instance the bar 11, for forward rotation of the corresponding dial, and as the handle is moved along the projections on the bar 11, this causes an intermittent making and breaking of the electric circuit to the electro-magnet 66, intermittently energizing the magnets and attracting the armature 6'7 to intera Lil mittently actuate the ratchet mechanism 71 for rotation of the corresponding ratchet gear and sheave, and likewise turning the dial or other tuning element of the receiving set to the desired degree.

If this is turned too far, it may be moved in the opposite direction by moving the handle 4 over so that the prong 6 contacts with the bar 10, and by moving the handle along said bar for causing a rotation of the tuning device in the opposite direction.

This provides a simple manner of controlling the reception through a radio receiving set from a point remote from said set, or, if desired, from a plurality of different points, any one of which may be used to control or tune the receiving set.

The invention may also be applied to other controlling systems as, for instance, call systems in large oflices or large buildings, or for signalling on ships, etc.

I claim:

1. The combination with a plurality of control elements, of means for independently actuating each of said elements, power means bodily movable relative to and for actuating said first-mentioned means, and means for bodily moving said power means selectively into operative relation with predetermined independent actuating means. I

2. The combination with a plurality of tuning and control elements of a radio receiving set, of means forindependently actuating each of said elements, power means bodily movable relative to and for actuating said first-mentioned means, means for bodily moving said power means selectively into operative relation with predetermined independent actuating means for individual control elements, and indicating means controlled and regulated with the selection and operation of the first-mentioned means for indicating the extent of actuation thereof.

3. The combination with tuning and control elements for a radio receiving set, of a plurality of actuating devices for respectively regulating said tuning and control elements, electro-magnetic means for operating the control devices, and means for bodily moving said electro-magnetic means into operative relation with the respective control device.

4. The combination with a plurality of tuning and control elements of a radio receiving set, of a plurality of ratchet mechanisms for controlling said elements, and an electro-magnetic device bodily movable into operative relation with each of the plurality of ratchet mechanisms and for actuating said mechanisms.

5. The combination with a plurality of tuning and control elements of a radio receiving set, of a plurality of ratchet mechanisms for controlling said elements, electro-magnetic means movable into operative relation with the respective ratchet mechanisms and for actuating said mechanisms, a slidably mounted carriage for supporting theelectro-magnetic means, and means for moving said carriage for moving the electromagnetic operating means into operative relation with the ratchet mechanism.

6. The combination with a plurality of tuning and control elements of a radio receiving set, of a plurality of ratchet mechanisms adapted to be connected with and to control said elements, a slidably mounted carriage associated with said ratchet mechanisms for sliding movement therealong, electro-magnetic actuating means carried by said carriage and adapted to cooperate with the respective ratchet mechanism for actuating said mechanism, a cable connected with the carriage for sliding said carriage along the ratchet mechanisms, means connected with and controlled by said cable for locking the carriage in predetermined positions, and electro-magnetically actuated ratchet mechanism connected with the opposite ends of the cable for moving said cable and causing a movement of the carriage.

7. The combination with a plurality of tuning and control elements in a radio receiving set, a plurality of means respectively connected with said elements for regulating the same, electromagnetic means bodily movable relative to the plurality of actuating means for selectively operating said means, means for causing a bodily movement of the electro-magnetic means into cooperative relation with the respective actuating means, and to actuate said electro-magnetic means, and means for indicating the extent of movement and actuation of the electro-magnetic means.

8. The combination with a plurality of tuning and control elements of a radio receiving set, of a plurality of mechanisms operatively connected with said elements, and electro-magnetic means bodily movable into operative relation with the respective mechanisms one at a time, means for causing a bodily movement of the electro-magnetic means into said relation to operate said mechanisms, and means to indicate the extent of movement and actuation of said electro-magnetic actuating means.

9. The combination with a plurality of tuning and control elements of a radio receiving set, of a plurality of mechanisms operatively connected with said elements, and electro-magnetic means movable into operative relation with the respective mechanisms, means for causing a movement of the electro-magnetic means into said relation and to actuate said means, and means to indicate the extent of movement and actuation of said electro-magnetic actuating means, said means including a plurality of indicating elements corresponding approximately with the tuning and control elements of the radio receiving set, and switching means for selecting the corresponding indicating means according to the extent of movement of the electro-magnetic actuating means.

10. The combination with a plurality of tuning and control elements of a radio receiving set, of a plurality of mechanisms operatively connected with said elements, and electro-magnetic means movable into operative relation with the respective mechanisms, means for causing a movement of the electro-magnetic means into said relation and to actuate said means, and means to indicate the extent of movement and actuation of said electro-magnetic actuating means, said means including a plurality of indicating elements corresponding approximately with the tuning and control elements of the radio receiving set, and switching means for selecting the corresponding indicating means according to the extent of movement of the electromagnetic actuating means, electro-magnetic means for actuating said switching and indicating means, and electrical control elements for actuating the mechanism to move the tuning and control elements and the indicating elements in either of opposite directions.

11. The combination with a plurality of tuning and control elements of a radio receiving set, of

a plurality of mechanisms operatively connected with said elements, and electro-magnetic means movable into operative relation with the respective mechanisms, means for causing a movement of the electro-magnetic means into said-relation and to actuate said means, and means to indicate the extent of movement and actuation ofsaid electro-magnetic actuating means, said means including a plurality of indicating elements corresponding approximately with the tuning and control elements of the radio receiving set, and switching means for selecting the corresponding indicating means according to the extent of movement of the electro-magnetic actuating means, electro-magnetic means for actuating said switching and indicating means, and electrical control elements for actuatingthe mechanism to move the tuning and control elements and the indicating elements in either of opposite directions, said electrical controlmeans including a plurality of segmental contact bars for regulating the actuation of the mechanism after selecting and additional contacts for controlling the selection.

12. In a radio receiving apparatus, the combination of a plurality of mechanisms for controlling the receiving apparatus, electro-magnetic means bodily movable into operative relation with the respective controlling mechanisms and for operating said mechanisms, a carriage for the electro-magnetic means, and means for moving the carriage to bring the electro-magnetic means into operative relation with the control mechanisms.

13. In a signal system, the combination of a 1 means bodily movable into operative relation with the respective controlling mechanisms and for operating said mechanisms, a carriage for bodily supporting and moving the electro-magnetic means, and means-for bodily moving the carriage to bring the electro-magnetic means into operative relation with the control mechanisms.

14. In-a signal system, the combination of a plurality of control mechanisms, a plurality of ratchet mechanisms for actuating said control mechanisms, electro-magnetic means bodily movable into operative relation with the respective ratchet mechanisms and for operating said mechanisms, a movable carriage for supporting the electro-magnetic means, and means other than the electromagnetic means for bodily moving said carriage for moving the electro-magnetic operating means into operative relation With theratchet mechanisms.

15. In a signal system, the combination of a plurality of control mechanisms, electro-magnetic means bodily. movable into operative relation with the respectivecontrolling 'mechanisms and for operating said mechanisms, a carriage for supporting the electro-magnetic means, means for bodily moving the carriage to bring the electromagnetic meansinto operative relation with the control mechanism, and means operatively synchronizedwith the selecting and operating means for indicating theaselected mechanism and the degree of actuation thereof.

ERNEST V. BERECHE... 

